Outlet frame and gate assembly



Oem, 4, 1955 G. B. Dom-:Y 2,719,492

OUTLET FRAME AND GATE ASSEMBLY IN V EN TDR.

0cm, 4, 1955 G. B. DOREY OUTLET FRAME AND GATE ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed May 19, 1951 INVEN'TQR. george Zi ongg, Mw MW# Y E R O D B. G.

OUTLET FRAME AND GATE ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Shee 4 Filed May 19, 1951INVENTOR. (m50/5755 X70/1e MM mmf Unit@ OUTLET FRAME AND GATE ASSEMBLYApplication May 19, 1951, Serial No. 227,177

1t) Claims. (Cl. 10S- 282) This invention relates to an improved outletframe and gate assembly for the discharge opening of a load containinghopper.

The objects of the invention among others are: To provide a frame andgate having interengagng ilared portions at the mouth of the frame forpreventing seepage of the lading; to provide a gate having laterallyextending portions lying outwardly beyond the sides of the dischargeopening for engagement with arms pivoted on the frame at the sides ofthe opening and to arrange for the `operation of said arms by movementof a rotatable operating shaft; to provide au improved frame structurefor carrying extension rail members to underlie the laterally extendingportions of the sliding gate to sup port the gate in open position; andto provide a cowllike housing at the end of the frame for protecting theend of the gate and associated mechanism against unfavorable weatherconditions.

The invention further resides in the improved frame structure and in themeans employed for latching the gate in closed position and in themounting of the sealing pin.

For further comprehension of the invention reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein the invention is shown as applied to theload containing hopper of a railway car.

In said drawings, Figure 1 shows a plan View of a portion of a railwaycar hopper with the improved outlet frame and gate assembly appliedthereto, said View being partly broken away to better illustrate theparts.

Figure 2 is a View of the structure shown in Figure 1 partly in sideelevation and partly in section as seen on a section line 2 2 of saidFigure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 2as taken on a line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinalsectional view on an enlarged scale taken on a line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detached top plan View of the gate. Figure 6 is a detachedplan view of the frame. Figure 7 is a vertical side elevational view ofthe outlet frame shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a vertical end elevational View of the frame shown in Figure7 as viewed from right to left of said j last named figure.

Figure 9 is a fractional side elevational view on an enlarged scale ofthe outer end of the outlet assembly showing the latching dog inreleased position and the gate in partially opened position.

Figure l0 is a vertical end view of the structure shown in Figure 9 asseen from right to left, certain parts being shown in section.

Figure 1l is a longitudinal elevational View showing the shaft,operating head, pinion and arm assembly in de tached relation.

Figure l2 is a vertical sectional View at an enlarged scale takenthrough the shaft and gate as seen on a line 12-12 of Figure 1, saidview showing the pinion broken away to better illustrate the latchingarm.

rates Patent 21,719,492 Patented Oct. 4, 1955 ICC In said drawings theload containing hopper is indicated generally in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Itis formed by side walls 10 and 11 which meet with end sloping walls 12and 13, Figure 3, to form a four-sided hopper 14 having a four-sideddischarge opening 15..

Enclosing the lower portion of the four sides of the hopper 14 is aunitary frame 16 having a sliding gate 17, carried thereby which isprovided on its underside with transversely extending rack teeth 18.Cooperating with the rack teeth 18 of the gate 17 are pinions 19 whichare non-rotatably mounted on an operating shaft 20 and the latter inturn is journalled in bearings 21 on opposite sides of the frame 16.

The frame 16 in its preferred form includes an upper wall portion lyingabove the gate 17 and formed with walls 22, 23, 24 and 25 which overliethe respective walls 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the hopper 14. The frame 16,below the gate 17, is formed with a four-sided chute-like portion ofappreciable depth including side walls 26 and 27 which are spacedinwardly from the adjacent upper walls 22 and 23 a sutlicient distanceto provide at runway surfaces 28 at each side of the frame 16 and onwhich the gate 17 is adapted to have lengthwise sliding movement.

The frame 16 adjacent the runway surfaces 28 is provided with upstandingguiding walls 29-29 which lie adjacent the sides 30-30 of the gate andconstitute guiding means for conning the movement of the gate to asubstantially rectilinear path. The frame 16 at its outer end isprovided with an elongated slot 31, Figure 8, through which the gateproper extends and outwardly of said slot the gate 17 is provided withextensions 32-32, Figure 5, which extend laterally outwardly beyond theends of the slot 31 and thus result in a T shaped gate. The side walls29 of the frame 16 adjacent the slot 31 are inclined as at 33 to presentan outwardly diverging ilared mouth and cooperable with the inclinedwalls 33 of the frame are similarly inclined walls 34 formed on thesides of the gate 17 adjacent the lateral extensions 32.

The frame 16 adjacent the slot 31 is formed at each side with avertically disposed angle shaped section positioned, Figure 6,cornerwise around the lateral extensions of the gate 17 as indicated at35 at the inner side of the frame and at 36 at the outer side of theframe.

Each angle shaped section 35 and 36 includes a vertically disposedlongitudinally extending wall spaced outwardly beyond the lateralextension of the frame and connected therewith by a laterally extendingvertical wall, said respective walls forming section 36 at the outerside of the frame 16 are indicated at 37 and 38 respectively and thesimilarly disposed walls of section 35 at the inner side of the frameare indicated at 39 and 4i) respectively. The outer longitudinallyextending wall 38 extends downwardly from the upper margin of the outersloping wall 22 of the frame 16 as shown in Figure 7.

The respective longitudinally disposed walls 38 and 40 are each providedwith the bearings 21 in transversely aligned relation to receive theoperating shaft 20. Extending downwardly at an incline from the uppermargin of the end sloping wall 25 of the frame is a wall 42, Figure 6,which is integrally united at each end with the longitudinally extendingwalls 38 and 40 and there is thus provided an inverted V-shaped cowllike housing structure which forms an enclosure for the outer end of thegate 17 and operates as a weather protection for the outer end thereofand its associated mechanism.

The operating shaft 20 is preferably of rectangular section and isprovided adjacent the bearings 21 with circular hub portions 43 and 44,Figure 1l, the latter being integrally formed with an operating head 45disposed on the outer side of wall 38. The bearing 43 is in the formQtashouldered bearing held Yin place on the Shaft 2 0 by a looselymounted pin 43a as indicated in Figure 11.

Inwardly of the walls 38 and 40 and in transverse alignment with the.lateral extensions 32 of `the gate 17 there are non-rotatably mountedon the shaft 2 0 .arms 4 6, Figures 1l and 12, which areeach providedwith an abutment face 47 arranged to contact with the end wall 48 of thegate, atthe rear of the lateral'extension. The arms 46 are spaced aparton the shaft 20, vas shown more clearly in Figures 1, 5 .and 11, toengage portions of the -wall 4 8 along the extensions 3 2 and to clearthe sides -39 of the gate 17 when it is moved over the shaft 2 0 onrotation of the latter. One of the engaging faces 47 or 48 is preferablyformed of arcuate shape and, as shown, said ourvatnre-is preferablyformed on :the gate 17. The axis 49 of the radius 5.0 `describing thearcuate end wall 48 is preferably located slightly above the pitch line51 of the toothed :pinion Aand rack teeth. The difference in location ofthe pitch line 51 and axis 49 is such that, upon the establishment ofcontact between the engaging face 47 of the arms `46 and end wall 48 ofthe gate 17, the latter is advanced beyond the teeth of the pinions 19and the entire ,operation of the gate 17 in a closing directionthereafter is assumed by the arms 46.

The rack teeth 18 of the gate 17 then move against the teeth of thepinions 1 9 instead yof the pinion teeth moving the gate, it beingunderstood that there is sufficient clearance or back lash 4between theteeth of the pinions 19 and the rack teeth 18 of the gate 17 tocompensate for the differential movement.

The gate 17 is retained in closedposition by reason of the arms 46bearing against the end wall 48 and the shaft 20 is maintained againstreverse rotation by means of a dog 52, Figure 2, acting on a lug 5 3,formed integrally with the operating-head .45. The dog 52 is pivotallymounted on the frame 16 at 54and is adapted to be swung to dispose aportionthereof in the path of rotation of the lug 53. There is formed inthe web 5 5 of the dog .52 a key shaped aperture 56 for the reception ofa sealing pin 57 which latter is pivotally mounted vin -lugs 5 8disposed, Figure l8, on the upper face of flange 42 of the cowlstructure.

The lugs 58, which are preferably formed integrally with the flange 442,are provided with aligned key shaped ,apertures 59 which correspond inshape to the shape of .the key shaped end 60 of the sealing pin 57. Thepin 57 is provided at its outer end with a handle portion 61 disposed atsuch an angle to the key shaped end 60 that the vpin 57 may only b einserted through the aligned apertures 59 prior to the positioning ofthe frame on the hopper structure as will ybe seen by reference toFigure 9 wherein the inserting position of the p in is indicated at .62by conventional dot and dash lines. Should there be 4any 4necessity toreplace a pin on the assembled structure the operation may be c arriedout by heating the handle portion 61 in a suitable manner and bendingthe said handle to clear the sloping end wall 1 3 of the hopper 14.

The improvement provides for uniform sliding movement of the gate 17 andfor the forcing it with uniform pressure at each `end thereof byrotation of the shaft 2 0. The disposition of the extensions 32outwardly of the main body of the sliding gate 17 combined with theoutward spacing of the longitudinally extending supporting side walls 38and 40 of the frame 16 provide a rigid well-braced structure in whichthere is a minimum of Wear on the undersurface of the gate 17 such aswould Vmar its seating surface and impair its sealing eiciency shouldthe underside of the main body of the gate be compelled to slide overthe extension runways. The outward spacing of the side walls 38 and 40enables the use of angle shaped extension rail members 63 which are thussecured to the walls 38 and 40 by one flange 64, Figure 10, and theadjacent flange 65 is v horizontally disposed and constitutes the runwaywhich supports thelateral extensions32 of the gate 17 when the latter isin open position. Secured to the vertical flanges 64 of the extensionrail members are guide plates 66 to limit the sideward and upwardbouncing movement of the gate 17 when in open position.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a load containing hopper including a discharge opening and amultiple sided frame bordering the opening, one of said sides having aslotted opening, a sliding gate extending through the slot for closingthe opening, s aid frame having runways underlying the gate at each sidethereof and side walls lying at each side of the runway extending inparallelism with the sides of the gate, said side walls adjacent theslotted end of the frame and remote from the opposite end thereofdiverging outwardly at acute angles with respect to the remainingportions of said side walls to present a wedge-shaped mouth disposedcentrally with respect to said side walls, and correspondingly disposedwedge-shaped surfaces at the sides of said gate for engagement with saidside Walls of said wedgeshaped mouth when the gate is in closed positionin the opening to locate the same therein, the interaction of the sidewalls vof said wedge-shaped mouth and of the juxtaposed wedge-shapedsurfaces of said gateinsuring that said sides of said gate in closedposition are in predetermined relation to the juxtaposed sidewalls ofsaid frame.

2. In a load containing hopper including a four-sided discharge openingand a four-sided framing structure bordering said opening, one of saidsides having a slot formed therein, a sliding gate extending throughsaid slot, a shaft journalled in said vframe below the plane of saidgate, cooperating rack and pinion means carried by said gate and shaftrespectively for moving the former by rotation of the latter, and armmeans fast on said shaft and extending radially therefrom-for engagingthe trailing Lsurface of said gate as it approaches the Aclosed positionby operation of said rack and ypinion means to insure that said gate ismoved to the completely closed position by continued rotation of saidshaft.

3. In a load containing hopper including a four-sided discharge opening'and a four-sided framing structure lbordering said opening, one .ofsaid sides having a slot formed therein, a sliding gate extendingthrough said slot, -said .gate having at its outer end lateralextensions lying outwardly beyond said slot, side walls sections on saidframing structure lying outwardly beyondsaid lateral extensions of saidgate, a shaft journalled in said wall sec.- tions below .the plane ofsaid gate, cooperating rack and pinion means carried by said gate andshaft lrespectively for moving the former by rotation of the latter, andarms fast on said shaft and extending 4radially -therefrom in alignmentwith the paths of travelof said lateral extensions respectively forengaging the trailing surfaces thereof as said gate approaches theclosed position by operation of said rack and pinion means tovinsureythat said `gate is moved to the completely closed position by continuedrotation of said shaft.

4. In a load containing hopper having a discharge opening and includinga sliding gate for closing the opening, an outlet frame bordering theopening for supporting the gate and means for moving the gate throughoutsubstantially its entire range .of movement and including rack teeth onthe lgate and cooperating toothed pinion means rotatably supported bythe`frame, a rotatable shaft for supporting the pinions, contact means onthe gate, and `other means carried by the shaft arranged .to contactsaid contact means on the gate as the latter moves to closed positionand take up the movement of the gate in advance of the pinions, saidother means including arm means extending radially from the shaft.

5. In a load containing hopper having a discharge opening and includinga sliding `gate for closing the opening, a framebordering the openingofthe discharge' Vhopper for Supporting the gate, and .means for movingthe .gate .i11- cluding toothed rack means carried by the gate andcooperating pinion means carried by the frame and a rotatable shaft forsupporting the pinion means, and means for moving the gate in advance ofthe pinions by rotation of the shaft including radially disposed armscarried by the shaft and arranged to contact the gate at a locationspaced from the axis of the Shaft beyond the pitch line defining theengaging location of the pinion and rack teeth.

6. In a load containing hopper having a four-sided discharge opening andincluding a sliding gate for closing the opening, a four-sided outletframe for supporting the gate bordering the opening of the hopperopening, said frame having an elongated slot in one of the sides for theaccom* modation of the gate therethrough, lateral extensions on the gatedisposed outwardly of the slot and extending laterally beyond the endsof the slot, the portions of the sides at the ends of said slotdiverging outwardly with respect to the remaining portions of said sidesto present a wedge shaped mouth, correspondingly disposed wedge shapedsurfaces at the sides of said gate for engagement with said wedge shapedmouth when said gate is in closed position in said opening,supplementary rail members projecting beyond the gate and underlyingsaid lateral extensions to form runways for supporting said gate in openposition, and angularly related vertical wall sections extendingoutwardly cornerwise around the lateral extensions of the gate topresent transversely and longitudinally extending walls, the last namedwalls constituting supporting means for the extension rail members.

7. In a load containing hopper having a four-sided discharge opening andincluding a gate for closing the opening, a four-sided outlet frame forsupporting the gate bordering the discharge opening, one of said sideshaving a slot for the gate,` said frame having an upper sectionoverlying the hopper and a lower chute like portion including sideshaving outwardly facing upper and lower wall sections extending beneaththe gate and disposed with the upper anges forming runways for the gate,said gate having a body section arranged to slide on said runways andhaving beyond the slot lateral extensions extending outwardly beyondeach side of the runway, the portions of the sides at the ends of saidslot diverging outwardly with respect to the remaining portions of saidsides to present a wedge shaped mouth, correspondingly disposed wedgeshaped surfaces at the sides of said gate for engagement with said wedgeshaped mouth when said gate is in closed position in said opening, saidframe having at each side angularly related vertical walls extendingcornerwise around the said lateral extensions of the gate, one of saidwalls of each corner extending lengthwise in the general direction ofmovement of the gate and the other of said walls extending transverselyof the lengthwise wall and integrally uniting the latter with the upperand lower sections of the frame, and extension rails projecting beyondthe frame to underlie and support the extensions of the gate, said railsbeing secured to the lengthwise extending walls.

8. In a load containing hopper having a four-sided discharge opening andincluding a sliding gate for closing the opening, a four-sided outletframe for supporting the gate, one of said sides having a slot formedtherein for the accommodation of the gate therethrough, said gate beyondthe slot being provided with lateral extensions extending beyond theslot, vertical walls extending cornerwise around the lateral extensionsto provide transverse and longitudinal walls, an inverted V-shaped cowlextending between said respective walls to overlie the projectingportion of the gate, means for moving the gate including interengagingrack and toothed pinions carried by the gate and frame respectively, anoperating shaft for supporting the pinions journalled in the saidlongitudinal` walls, arms carried by the shaft adapted to engage withthe extensions of the gate to maintain the latter in closed position, alug fixed with respect to the shaft disposed outwardly of one of thelongitudinal walls, a dog pivotally mounted on the frame to swing in thepath of movement of the lug, and an axially movable sealing pinpivotally mounted on the inverted V-shaped cowl and axially movable toextend through the locking dog.

9. In a load containing hopper including a discharge opening and amultiple sided frame bordering the opening, one of said sides having aslotted opening, a sliding gate extending through the slot for closingthe opening, said frame having runways underlying the gate at each sidethereof and side walls lying at each side of the runways extending inparallelism with the sides of the gate, said side walls adjacent theslotted end of the frame diverging outwardly at acute angles withrespect to the remaining portions of said side walls to present awedgeshaped mouth, correspondingly disposed wedge-shaped surfaces at thesides of the gate for engagement with the wedge-shaped mouth of theframe when the gate is in closed position in the opening, a shaftjournalled in said frame, cooperating rack and pinion means carried bysaid gate and shaft respectively for moving the gate by rotation of theshaft, and supplementary means carried by the shaft for engaging thegate to move the same in advance of said pinion means to cause saidwedge-shaped surfaces on the gate to engage the corresponding surfacesof said wedge-shaped mouth.

l0. In a load containing hopper including a discharge opening and amultiple sided frame bordering the opening, one of said sides having aslotted opening, a sliding gate extending through the slot for closingthe opening, said gate beyond the slot being provided with lateralextensions extending beyond the slot, said frame having runwaysunderlying the gate at each side thereof and side walls lying at eachside of the runway extending in parallelism with the sides of the gate,said side walls adjacent the slotted end of the frame divergingoutwardly at acute angles with respect to the remaining portions of saidside walls to present a wedge-shaped mouth, correspondingly disposedwedge-shaped surfaces at the sides of the gate for engagement with thewedge-shaped mouth of the frame when the gate is in closed position inthe opening, a shaft journalled in said frame, cooperating rack andpinion means carried by said gate and shaft respectively for moving thegate by rotation of the shaft, and arms carried by the shaft forengaging with the extensions of the gate to move the same in advance ofsaid pinion means to cause said wedgeshaped surfaces on the gate toengage the corresponding surfaces of said wedge-shaped mouth.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 85,647Dolan Jan. 5, 1869 820,240 Mulock May 8, 1906 2,002,211 Torney May 21,1935 2,072,292 Campbell Mar. 2, 1937 2,142,236 Campbell Ian. 3, 19392,222,280 Batho Nov. 19, 1940 2,512,451 Withall June 20, 1950

